A quick guide to what’s changing, why it matters, and how to stay ahead.
WHAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW
Across government, there’s a growing push for efficiency—and a lot of unknowns.
From executive orders and funding freezes to agency restructuring and layoffs, the landscape is shifting fast.
Leaders like you are facing pressure to:
- Meet mandates with fewer resources
- Rethink procurement practices
- Adapt quickly to changing policies
- Make smart decisions with incomplete information
- Meet mandates with fewer resources
You’re not alone—and it’s okay to not have all the answers.
At Northwoods, we’re closely tracking federal news and national conversations. This blog is a roundup of key resources and headlines to help your agency make sense of what’s happening—and stay one step ahead.
HEADLINES THAT MATTER (Spring 2025)
With all the news, we’ve been thinking about state and county government and the people being served, such as those involved in the child welfare or adult protective services programs, as well as those who receive economic assistance benefits. Regarding these populations, some of the most recent headlines (summarized) include:
- NY loses federal funding for Integrated Eligibility System modernization 2/21/25
- Ending welfare benefits for identified illegal aliens 3/10/25
- TANF Pilots canceled in 5 states 3/10/25
- Information Sharing: Executive Order to Prevent Waste, Fraud & Abuse 3/20/25
- HHS launches “Make America Healthy Again” 3/27/25
- ACL Announces $1.1B in grant opportunities for older adults 5/5/25
- NY loses federal funding for Integrated Eligibility System modernization 2/21/25
TOP RESOURCES TO STAY INFORMED
With so much change happening so rapidly, it’s hard to keep track of all the updates. But there’s no need to track it all alone. Here are some great resources that we follow:
- Child Welfare Wonk produces weekly federal funding insights, deep dives on Title IV-E, TANF, and Medicaid
- NACHSA Federal Action & Updates includes summaries and analysis of federal actions, geared toward counties
- APHSA Key Federal Updates categorizes relevant executive orders and federal action by topic area
- This Week in Washington is a newsletter by APHSA and provides a chronological summary of activity
- The Imprint is an independent daily news outlet focused on child welfare and youth justice
- The 80 Million provides Medicaid policy updates, insights, and analysis
- Note this article, which delves into federal match rates for Medicaid administrative spending
- Note this article, which delves into federal match rates for Medicaid administrative spending
- McDermott+ provides updates, insights, and resources on the healthcare industry
- Vision2Value – HHS Tech Talk is a podcast series that analyzes state government technology initiatives
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is the main website for the federal health and human services department
- Note their release of HHS grants terminated
- Child Welfare Wonk produces weekly federal funding insights, deep dives on Title IV-E, TANF, and Medicaid
WHAT'S NEXT
Experts agree: we’re entering a new era of austerity. Agencies will need to rethink how they operate—because “business as usual” isn’t cutting it.
“Constraint breeds innovation.” – Dustin Haisler, GovTech Briefing
“Budget concerns will drive creativity.” – Jordan Hynes, National Governors Association
Efficiency isn’t a trend; it’s a necessity.
We generally describe efficiency as using the least amount of inputs to achieve the highest amount of output, or the ability to do things well, successfully, and without waste.
Social workers and their leadership can make sense of this by focusing on the most critical work at the core of their agency’s mission, then thinking creatively about new ways to tackle daily work. This might include:
- Talking with peers in neighboring states and counties
- How are they approaching efficiency?
- What solutions have they tried?
- Learning from associations, think tanks, or advocacy groups
- Exploring case studies and policy insights from APHSA and other publications, such as:
- Talking with peers in neighboring states and counties
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN TECH SOLUTIONS
Technology isn’t optional anymore—it’s how you stay resilient.
Agencies should look for tools that:
- Support automation and AI for faster processes
- Include bundled features to reduce vendor sprawl
- Are built and ready for implementation (Commercial Off-the-Shelf products)
- Offer flexible, subscription-based pricing
- Scale with your team and funding cycles
- Replace paperwork with built-in digital workflows
- Support automation and AI for faster processes
Northwoods’ Traverse is one example. It is designed specifically for social workers, streamlines paperwork, boosts compliance, and frees up time for family engagement.
Below are some free training resources:
- May 14, 2:00 PM Eastern: Grants Management Strategies for a Shifting Federal Landscape
- May 21, 10:00 AM–4:00 PM Eastern: NextGen Government Training Virtual Summit
- May 29, 9:00 AM–12:30 PM Eastern: Data & Digital Tools Workshop
- June 5, 9:00 AM–12:30 PM Eastern: Generative AI Workshop
- May 14, 2:00 PM Eastern: Grants Management Strategies for a Shifting Federal Landscape
FINAL TAKEAWAY
Government uncertainty is real—but you don’t have to navigate it alone.
By staying informed and exploring the right tools, your agency can remain focused, resilient, and ready for whatever comes next.
We’re here to help.
Amy Drapcho is Northwoods’ Senior Manager of External Affairs. She leverages nearly two decades of state government and juvenile justice budgeting, grants, and administrative experience to help states and counties navigate funding complexities related to technology. Additionally, she represents Northwoods with various external partnerships and associations and is always looking for opportunities to engage with other professionals in the human services space.
Connect with Amy on LinkedIn or schedule time to talk with Amy.
